Re: Someone Hacking into my PC? Please help.

From: Chuck (none_at_example.net)
Date: 04/20/05 

Date: 20 Apr 2005 10:40:02 -0500

On Wed, 20 Apr 2005 07:18:02 -0700, "Raydo99"
<Raydo99@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Thanks for the reply. I'm sure my front door is wide open. I'm quite the
>novice when it comes to security. Here is my setup as best I can describe it.
>
>I have a Wireless Linksys Router model number BEFW11S4-VN.
>
>I have a total of three PC's that share the DSL connection. Two are
>hardwired and one is wireless. The PC that I am having the problem with is
>hardwired. I also have a network printer that is hardwired to the router.
>
>The only sharing things that need to be shared are the internet connection
>and the network printer. There is not need for the PC's to be talking to
>each other. To the best of my knowledge, I do not have sharing set up on my
>PC. Frankly, I'm not 100% certain.
>
>I am thinking that the wireless portion of my network is not the problem. I
>live in a rather rural area. It seems unlikely that anyone is jumping on my
>network.
>
>SSID broadcasting is disabled. I'm not sure about WEP or WPA security.
>
>Is there an easy way to disable sharing on my PC?
>
>Thanks again for the help. Please let me know if I need to provide more info.

Do you not want to share files between your computers? If you truly don't, then
(are your computers running Windows?) check the list of items under Local Area
Connection Properties. Remove the following items from the list:
Client for Microsoft Networks
File and Printer Sharing For Microsoft Networks

If you remove CMN and FPSMN, then you will disable sharing. Of course, that's
sort of one of the benefits of having a LAN, so that may not be the best
solution.

Short of throwing the baby out with the bath water, try some easier improvements
in your security.

Change the router management password, and disable remote (WAN) management.

Enable WEP (minimal) / WPA (preferable). Use non-trivial (non-guessable) values
for encryption. (No "My dog has fleas").

Enable MAC filtering.

Change the subnet of your LAN - don't use the default.

Disable DHCP, and assign an address to each computer manually.

Install a software firewall on every computer connected to a wireless LAN. Put
manually assigned ip addresses in the Local (highly trusted) Zone. Open the
firewall for file sharing, only in the Local Zone.

Don't disable SSID broadcast - some configurations require the SSID broadcast.
But change the SSID itself - to something that doesn't identify you, or the
equipment.

Enable the router activity log. Examine it regularly. Know what each
connection listed represents - you? a neighbor?.

Use non-trivial accounts and passwords on every computer connected to a wireless
LAN. Disable or delete Guest userid, if possible (XP Home is a bad choice
here). Rename Administrator, to a non-trivial value, and give it a non-trivial
password. Never use the Administrator renamed account for day to day
activities, only when intentionally doing administrative tasks. 

-- 
Cheers,
Chuck 
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My        email         is          AT         DOT
   actual       address    pchuck       sonic      net.

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